Choosing the Right Air Conditioner

May 22, 2015

If you live in the Denver area you are probably well aware that the Summer heat can get a little uncomfortable. And while it can be argued that it’s not as bad because it’s a “dry heat,” the fact remains: when you’re hot, sticky and miserable, there is no pleasure, no joy, no exquisite feeling greater than air conditioning.

But unfortunately not all of us have access to a high-end central air system that keeps your Denver home at a comfortable 72 degrees Fahrenheit. There also comes a point where an electric fan no longer cuts it for keeping you cool. When the time to finally purchase an air conditioning unit comes, you’ll need to know how to choose the right one. Here are a few tips to ensure that you are getting the right unit for your home.

Room Size

The first thing you need to consider is the size of the rooms you are hoping to cool. Are you cooling an entire apartment, or just a room in your home? While it may not seem overly important, a common misconception that people make when purchasing a new air conditioner is that bigger is better. If your AC unit is too large for the room it is meant to cool than it will actually be less effective. Not only will it cool the room too quickly, but it will do a poorer job regulating the moisture in the air – creating a room that is more clammy than comfortable.

When it comes to determining the size of your room, some math is in order (lucky for you if you like math!) to figure out how many square feet you are working with. If your room is a square or rectangle, you’ll need to multiply the length of the area by its width. If it’s a triangular area, multiply the length of the area by the width and divide by two.

EnergyStar.gov has a handy chart on the right amount of British Thermal Units (BTU) your air conditioner will need to put out depending on the square footage of your room. This will help ensure that the air conditioner you get well cool your room the best.

Energy Efficiency

While it’s great to exist in a climate-controlled environment, that luxury is not free and power’s not cheap. Once you figure out the size of the room you want to cool, your next consideration is how much you want to pay in the long run. When it comes to evaluating the energy efficiency of a room air conditioner, pay careful attention to the unit’s energy efficiency rating (EER) and its BTU rating. The EER, which ranges from 8 to 11.5, is your indicator not only to how ecologically friendly your AC unit will be but also how much your could save on your monthly electric bills. A rating above 10 will produce the most in energy savings for you, but these models are likely to cost a little more to buy. However, in the long run you’ll certainly make up on energy bills for what you will initially.

If you have any questions about the best air conditioning solutions for your home, or if you own an air conditioner that is in need of service or repair, check one of TeamDaveLogan.com’s trusted contractors to guarantee your Denver home stays nice and cool once Summer decides to turn up the heat!